Essendon midfielder David Myers says Jake Stringer has done everything the club has required him to do so far throughout the preseason.
Stringer had a poor debut for the Bombers, collecting just six disposals in the club’s 87-point defeat to Richmond in their opening JLT Community Series match last week.
However, Myers hopes that performance doesn’t cloud the body of work the 2015 All-Australian has put in so far.
“We have been rapt with the way he has gone about it thus far in the preseason,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“He has done everything we have asked him to do and he knows he still has a fair bit of work to do, but he is delivering on everything we have asked him to do and what he has committed to doing so far, so you can’t fault Jake.”
Myers also added the team has assessed the heavy loss to the Tigers, and believes the way to move forward is relying on instinct over game plan on occasions.
“We have been able to narrow down what exactly we are trying to do,” he said.
“It is about guys less worrying about that and trying to play on instinct a bit more.
“You do train your structures and how you want to move the ball and how you want to defend to a large degree across the preseason.
“It is also for the guys to remember to play the game and react naturally, because we all bring different things and we are in the system because we can play.
“That has been the focus, to remind guys not to get too stressed out there and play footy.”
The Dons kick off their 2018 home-and-away campaign against Adelaide on Friday March 23.
Listen to David Myers’ chat with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson on SEN Breakfast in the player below!